Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

13. Commitments and Contingencies

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13. Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

Operating Lease Commitments

 

The Company leases office space and business equipment for its corporate office and subsidiaries under multiple year non-cancelable operating leases that expire through 2021. The office lease agreements have certain escalation clauses and renewal options. Additionally, the Company has lease agreements for computer equipment, office copiers and fax machines.

 

The office space lease agreements include escalating rents over the lease term. The Company expenses rent on a straight-line basis over the lease term which commences on the date the Company has the right to control the property. The cumulative expense recognized on a straight-line basis in excess of the cumulative payments is included in Accrued Expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

At December 31, 2016, future minimum lease payments under these leases are as follows:

 

Year ending December 31,        
  2017     $ 816,135  
  2018       546,459  
  2019       529,450  
  2020       451,369  
  2021       68,168  
  Total minimum future lease payments     $ 2,411,581  

 

Rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 was $0.9 million and $0.6 million, respectively.

 

Purchase Commitments

 

On January 25, 2013, a subsidiary of the Company entered into a ten year, automatically renewable, License Agreement with Dry Spot Diagnostics AG (“Dry Spot”). The agreement provides for a royalty of 10% on sales incorporating the Dry Spot technology in years subsequent to 2016 through the expiry of the agreement.

 

The Company has entered into a purchase agreement for reagent supplies through December, 2020.

 

Minimum commitments as of December 31, 2016 for these obligations are as follows:

 

Year ending December 31,        
  2017       54,871  
  2018       54,871  
  2019       54,781  
  2020       54,961  
  Total purchase commitments     $ 219,484  

 

Concentration of Credit Risk - Credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is generally diversified due to the large number of patients comprising the client base. The Company does have significant receivable balances with government payers and various insurance carriers. Generally, the Company does not require collateral or other security to support customer receivables. However, the Company continually monitors and evaluates its client acceptance and collection procedures to minimize potential credit risks associated with its accounts receivable and establishes an allowance for uncollectible accounts and as a consequence, believes that its accounts receivable credit risk exposure beyond such allowance is not material to the financial statements.

 

A number of proposals for legislation continue to be under discussion which could substantially reduce Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) reimbursements to clinical laboratories. Depending upon the nature of regulatory action, and the content of legislation, the Company could experience a significant decrease in revenues from Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), which could have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Company is unable to predict, however, the extent to which such actions will be taken.

 

The Company maintains its cash balances in high credit quality financial institutions.  The Company’s cash balances may, at times, exceed the deposit insurance limits provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

  

Legal Matters

 

From time to time, the Company may be involved in a variety of claims, lawsuits, investigations and proceedings related to contractual disputes, employment matters, regulatory and compliance matters, intellectual property rights and other litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company operates in a highly regulated industry which may inherently lend itself to legal matters. Management is aware that litigation has associated costs and that results of adverse litigation verdicts could have a material effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations. Management, in consultation with legal counsel, has addressed known assertions and predicted unasserted claims below.

 

The Company’s Epinex Diagnostics Laboratories, Inc. subsidiary had been sued in a California state court by two former employees who alleged that they were wrongfully terminated, as well as for a variety of unpaid wage claims. The parties entered into a settlement agreement of this matter on July 29, 2016 for approximately $0.2 million, and the settlement was consummated on August 25, 2016. In October of 2016, the plaintiffs in this matter filed a motion with the court seeking payment for attorneys’ fees in the approximate amount of $0.7 million. On March 24, 2017, the court granted plaintiffs’ motion for payment of attorneys’ fees in the amount of $0.3 million, and the Company has accrued this

amount in its consolidated financial statements. 

 

In February 2016, the Company received notice that the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) had placed a lien against Medytox Solutions, Inc. and its subsidiaries relating to unpaid 2014 taxes due, plus penalties and interest, in the amount of $5.0 million. The Company paid $0.1 million toward its 2014 tax liability in March 2016. The Company filed its 2015 Federal tax return on March 15, 2016 and the accompanying election to carryback the reported net operating losses was filed in April 2016. On August 24, 2016, the lien was released, and in September of 2016 the Company received a refund from the IRS in the amount of $1.9 million. In November of 2016, the IRS commenced an audit of the Company’s 2015 Federal tax return. The Company is currently unable to predict the outcome of the audit or any liability to the Company that may result from the audit.

 

On September 27, 2016, a tax warrant was issued against the Company by the Florida Department of Revenue (the “DOR”) for unpaid state income taxes in the approximate amount of $0.9 million, including penalties and interest. On January 25, 2017, the Company paid the DOR $250,000 as partial payment on this liability, and in February 2017 the Company entered into a Stipulation Agreement with the DOR which will allow the Company to pay the remainder of the amount due to the DOR over a period of 12 months. If at any time during the Stipulation period the Company fails to timely file any required tax returns with the DOR or does not meet the payment obligations under the Stipulation Agreement, the entire amount due will be accelerated.

 

In December of 2016, TCS-Florida, L.P. (“Tetra”), filed suit against the Company for failure to make the required payments under an equipment leasing contract that the Company had with Tetra (see note 9). On January 3, 2017, Tetra received a Default Judgment against the Company in the amount of $2.6 million, representing the balance owed on the leases, as well as additional interest, penalties and fees. The Company has recognized this amount in its consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2016. In January and February of 2017, the Company made payments to Tetra in connection with this judgment aggregating to $0.7 million, and on February 15, 2017 the Company entered into a forbearance agreement with Tetra whereby the remaining $1.9 million due would be paid in 24 equal monthly installments, commencing on May 1, 2017.

 

In December of 2016, DeLage Landen Financial Services, Inc. (“DeLage”), filed suit against the Company for failure to make the required payments under an equipment leasing contract that the Company had with DeLage (see note 9). On January 24, 2017, DeLage received a default judgment against the Company in the approximate amount of $1.0 million, representing the balance owed on the lease, as well as additional interest, penalties and fees. The Company has recognized this amount in its consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2016. On February 8, 2017, a Stay of Execution was filed and under its terms the balance due would be paid in variable monthly installments through January of 2019, with an implicit interest rate of 4.97%.

 

On December 7, 2016, the holders of the Tegal Notes (see note 7) filed suit against the Company seeking payment for the amounts due under the notes in the aggregate of $0.4 million, including accrued interest. A request for entry of default judgment was filed on January 24, 2017. The Company has attempted to work out a payment arrangement with the plaintiffs, but to date has not been able to consummate such an arrangement. A Case Management Conference is scheduled for September 5, 2017.